Dabirian, S; Moussazadeh, M; Khanzadi, M and Abbaspour, S (2023) Predicting the effects of congestion on labour productivity in construction projects using agent-based modelling. International Journal of Construction Management, 23(4), pp. 606-618. ISSN 1562-3599
Abstract
Increasing the volume of labour is an approach taken by contractors to accelerate the workflow in construction projects. However, this will lead to congestion as a major contributing factor that can affect labour productivity and significantly impact the construction process. Various studies have analyzed the effects of congestion on labour productivity; however, they fail to quantify the impacts of congestion on labour productivity. Therefore, this paper applies the Agent-Based Modelling (ABM) as an effective tool for predicting the effects of congestion on labour productivity in construction projects. A Java-based application is developed as an implementation of the proposed model. Based on a real case study, the paper discusses the potential benefits of the model, e.g., accurately predicting labour productivity, providing opportunity for workspace allocation, and simulating project reality in a virtual model. The simulation results demonstrate a 30% decrease in productivity due to congestion. The results confirm that the impacts of congestion on labour productivity at a construction site can be predicted as an emergent property from the interaction between workers, tasks, and their environment, i.e., a construction site, as well as the dynamics of varying productivity.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | agent-based modelling; congestion; labour productivity |
| Index terms: | construction site, workflow, construction process, construction project, agent-based modelling, productivity, workspace, case study, interaction, implementation, dynamics, labour productivity |
| Subjects: | production management, management, behavioral psychology, systems engineering, building construction, data collection methods, contractual arrangements, work location, modelling and simulation |
| Topics: | Site Management, Procurement, Stakeholder Management, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Research Practice, Business Strategy |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here